Evans officials found themselves in a curious position on Friday when one of the city's wastewater treatment plants went down, thanks to historic flooding in the area, causing officials to issue a "no flush" order they said could last up to 10 days.

Fred Starr, director of public works for Evans, said the order likely won't last that long, and officials are working on alternative options so that residents can use their toilets.

The plant, which sits on 1st Avenue, serves about 20 percent of the city, or about 3,800 residents. Starr said those residents are mostly in the eastern third of the city near the South Platte River.

He said the city is exploring how to get a contractor to pump the sewage at the treatment plant, but he said a more likely option could be to get special authorization from the state to pump raw sewage directly into the river.

That can only be done under extreme circumstances, Starr said Friday.

He said the treatment plant is under water, so there's little the city can do until the floodwaters — which displaced hundreds of Greeley and Evans residents on Friday — recede.

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"Once we can actually can get access, then we will know how long it will take us to get the plant up and operating," Starr said.

Until then, those in the plant's vicinity are encouraged to flush their toilets as few times as possible.